Post Type: ARTICLES
What Can We Do To Prevent Violence In Schools?
School violence has become a serious issue in America. What used to be simple rule-bending among students have turned into highly alarming events, such as grave threats, hitting, and even shooting. Not only do they affect the kind of education students get, they also cause tragic results. More American youths between the ages 15 to 24 die due to violence than any other cause.
School violence has become more than an issue in America; it is a very serious dilemma. Students are not just the same anymore in terms of how they handle conflict. Most do not walk away from controversial incidents. When confronted with situations or any form of conflict, most student would just deal with by throwing a punch here and a punch there. They do not fight it out; they shoot it out!
Now, times have changed. For the most part, when students are confronted with violent situations in the schools, some students would retaliate by applying more drastic measures. They not only turned into highly alarming events, such as grave threats, hitting and shooting. Students for the most part feel threatened and unsafe in the schools. Now we have a more serious dilemma and it is called, “Bullying.” It has been a part of the students’ body for years but now it has become more prevalent.
Bullying is a very serious dilemma in the schools. Violence in the educational system is at an all time high. It is our finding that students that practice alternative lifestyles experience this extreme forn of violence. Many students have lost their lives as a result of “Bullying!” These students that live alternative lifestyles are either beaten to death by bullies or they end up committing suicide.
As a result of violence in the schools, some parents have resorted to home-schooling to prevent and protect their children from being exposed to these type of behavioral problems. It is the function of the Board of Education to provide education and a safe environment for all children but the schools have not been able to protect these children.
It is then imperative that violence in schools be stopped before the effects become worse. It is my opinion that it can get worst and has gotten worst. The question arises, “What can we do to prevent violence in schools? Their security guards at the front gate of most schools and students are not allowed until they are checked. If that proves to be an effective method, how are outraged maniacs gaining entrance into the schools and committing grave threats to the staff and students. Obviously, this method is not effective.
In an educatonal article concerning “What can we do to prevent violence in schools” It is said, “The common anti-violence schemes used in American schools are mostly traditional preventive measures.” First is the students’ conduct or discipline code. This document is essentially a guide for students on how they are supposed to act within the campus; thus, it is basically just a document. To realize the power of a discipline code, most schools implement a punishment system. This system would include reprimands, detention, suspension, and even expulsion of students who break the rules in the code.
As an educator, many of us have experience the above-mentioned punishment system. This system is not 100% effective. Parents and general public have become more and more concerned about their children and families.
I totally agree that these schemes have become so common that, in a way, the youth seems to have become ‘immune’ to them. As the times change, the rule-breaking becomes more deeply aggressive, and so, school administrations are starting to explore new ways to address this problem.
There are three basic categories of methods that a school can adopt to prevent violence. First are management-based methods, which rely on actions and projects from administrators. Second are environmental adjustment methods, which modify the campus’ environment to make it safer. Then there are education-based methods, which are about information and formation. All of these plans are in motion and meanwhile staff and students are dying by the hands of maniac.
The education article states that “Management-based methods are common yet effective if implemented well.” For example, a universal yet helpful way is to provide open counseling services to students. Many of the established causes of violent behavior among young people are the emotional struggles they undergo, such as family crises and social discrimination. By providing a means for emotional and psychological healing, the problem of violence is nipped at the bud. If this is really the remedy to this epidemic, the general public still wants to know “What can we do to prevent violence in schools.” The general public believes a lot of planning and talking but we are not seeing the manifestations of this bullet proof system. The bullying, fighting, shooting and bombing are still creating a major problem in the schools.
It is said that “Another method adopted by various schools is creating and maintaining linkages to the homes of students.” The basic form of this is the Parent-Teacher Association, where school administrators discuss issues with the students’ parents or legal guardians. Like counseling, home-school links are also a way to help improve the behavior of students. Many of the parents have lost control of their children because some are being parented in single parent homes.
The system is providing services to the general public where counseling and home-school linkages both fall under how a school manages student behavior, there are also methods that aim to improve the environment in which students act and interact with each other. Yet, violence in the schools is on the rise.
For quite sometime , a number of schools now adopt electronic security with the use of surveillance cameras and weapon detectors. Less daunting methods, such as the use of electronic identification for entrances and transactions, are also viable. Again, intruders are allowed to penetrate that system and create the most hideous crime.
Finally, it is the general opinion of policy makers “The education-based methods are deemed least solid, but if executed right, they can be highly effective.” Information and formation go beyond flyers and posters. Good education-based anti-violence measures let students understand that they have options, whether in how they handle their problems, in how they interact with each other, or in getting help when they feel abused. The general public cry is they are not seeing a solution to the rising problem of violence in the schools.
These methods should go beyond the studentry – they ideally involve parents as well. Beyond the PTA discussions and updates, a better scheme is parenting training. This project does not have to overlap or conflict with the preferred parenting style of every mother or father. Instead, it complements it with solid concepts based on what administrators have found in the students’ general temperament and behavior. It is my opinion, as educators, we should encourage concerned community members.
In conclusion, I would like to add this final comment as well, all of these methods can be helpful, but their effectiveness still depends on the school itself. In the end, a school’s sincere care for its students is the best antidote to the issue of school violence. With sincere care, a better school community will surely be possible.
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